Report: Seacrest inks $45M deal

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (UPI) -- Ryan Seacrest has inked a three-year deal with CKX for $45 million, making him the best paid U.S. reality television host ever, The Hollywood Reporter said.

CKX owns 19 Entertainment, which produces "American Idol," the popular singing competition series of which Seacrest serves as host.

As part of the pact, Seacrest will earn $15 million a year in exchange for working exclusively for CKX in broadcast prime-time television as host of "Idol" or whatever CKX-produced show might succeed it, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

Seacrest reportedly was paid $5 million per season before the new deal was signed.

He has a separate cable agreement with Comcast and is E! Entertainment's lead anchor.

19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and Fox, the network on which "Idol" airs, declined to comment on the story, The Hollywood Reporter said.